homosexual : Gay & Black Glossary

Preferring sex with people of the same gender. In Greek homo means same. In
Latin it means man. The derivation is from Greek. Therefore you can also
refer to lesbians as homosexual. Whether you have sex or not, you are still
homosexual if you prefer the same sex. The term active
homosexual is sometimes used for a homosexual person who is having sex. This
is a somewhat derogatory term.

There is a subtle pronunciation difference. If you pronounce it with equal
emphasis on each syllable, with unusually clear enunciation e.g.
ho´-mo´-sex´-u-al it conjures up southern redneck
attitudes, pronouncing the word as if for the first time, to suggest emotional
distance from it. If you want to pronounce it with the connotation of no big deal acceptance say ho´-mo-sex´-ual,
slurring slightly.